Briggs & Stratton develops additive to offset ethanol's effects on small engines

pioneer press ^ | 7-10-13 | Rick Barrett

[TurboZamboni]

Briggs & Stratton Co. has never liked ethanol because it can make a mess of things at the worst possible time -- like when you need to cut the grass and your lawn mower spits, sputters and just won't start.

Often, water in the gasoline is the culprit, according to Briggs, the world's largest manufacturer of small gasoline engines.

And the company says the biofuel additive ethanol, which is contained in most of the gasoline people buy today, can attract moisture out of the air like steel sticks to a magnet.

Moisture in gasoline is a big problem for boats, lawn mowers, generators and other equipment powered by gasoline engines, said Scott Wesenberg, manager of Briggs' fuel systems group.

[listenhillary]

I found the pure-gas.org site recently and have been using their map to find ethanol free gasoline.

The station I go to isn’t marked ethanol free and I don’t mind. I can tell it is ethanol free when I open gas cans to fill tractors and mowers, the gas cans don’t shoot out the built up vapor from the evaporating ethanol.

What is interesting is the station I go to is very competitive and routinely undersells the competition by a couple of cents a gallon. I approve.

[thackney]

Similar results at all web sites due to Houston being an area for mandatory reformulated gasoline.

http://www.api.org/~/media/Files/Policy/Alternatives/US-Gasoline-Requirements-Map.pdf

http://www.buyrealgas.com/Texas.html

I find similar complaints/results on the boating forums as well.

[thackney]

I can tell it is ethanol free when I open gas cans to fill tractors and mowers, the gas cans don’t shoot out the built up vapor from the evaporating ethanol.

Keep telling yourself that, it will make you feel better.

[BwanaNdege]

I wish the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel had an editor! The author writes:

“The small-engine industry has lagged behind automakers in keeping up with changing fuel standards, according to Moore. “They think they need fuel additives that probably aren’t really necessary,” she said.”

Just who is this dingbat “Moore”? No other reference to “Moore” in this article. All I can guess is that she has never mowed a lawn several times over the course of a summer.

Best quote in the article: “Ethanol, he said, leaves residues that ‘never stick in a nice place.’ “

“&#$^&* Ain’t that the truth!”(he says after getting the gunk out of the B&S carb for the umpteenth time!)

[Slump Tester]

It dissolves and eats through fiberglass gas tanks too. I have a classic 71 Norton that is sitting in the shed until I find the right tank in steel. (That I can afford.)

[Fresh Wind]

Government wants us to use less fuel, so they force some areas to have ethanol added to the gas, which reduces mileage, and they also dictate winter blends of gas, which also reduce mileage.

FUEPA.

[listenhillary]

Should I video tape it for you?

[mountainlion]

You might find a good tank liner that will seal the leaks and resist the alcohol. I lined several five gallon gas cans for less than $20.

[Bruce Kurtz]

Had to have my carb re-built in my snow blower and tractor. Been using an ethanol fuel conditioner and so far so good.

[woodbutcher1963]

It will also eat through your rubber gas lines. That is why I run ALL my small engines dry when I am not going to be using them for a few weeks.

[mountainlion]

It runes neoprene fuel lines also. My Atv had fuel pump, gas lines, fuel shut of valve, and carburetor destroyed by the alcohol. The batteries are short lived by hard starting. Big government sure sucks.

[thackney]

That won’t convince me. There is far more other items in gasoline that create and control vapor pressure than ethanol.

[listenhillary]

I would also have to buy four or five gallons of that crap 85% gasoline to record a video of the comparison.

The gas cans actually bulge from the pressure. Believe what you want, I’ll use firsthand observations.

[Slump Tester]

I’ve thought about that. Do you remember what you used? Was it an epoxy?

[thackney]

Most likely you are buying from a station that does not have their vapor control vents properly working and the very light combustibles have already evaporated off.

But as you say, believe what you want. I have only worked in refinery design, what would I know?

[mountainlion]

I tried some stuff form JC Whitney that was a bit flexible which was good. I got some other stuff that was hard form a body shop. I am sure that NAPA and other automotive supply stores would have a gas tank sealer. I expect that motorcycle supply houses could get some and might have the best advice.

[Boogieman]

I know an additive that can mitigate these effects... it’s called “gasoline”.

[The Great RJ]

How long before the government bans the use of this additive because of health or environmental concerns? Another issue is that ethanol is a solvent that attacks some plastic and metal parts. This could be a real problem in older small engines were never designed for ethanol fuels.

Ethanol fuels are a huge boondoggle and do not save any oil because of the lower gas mileage that occurs when using them. The energy needed to produce ethanol from planting and harvesting the corn, shipping it to ethanol plants, making the ethanol and shipping by truck for distribution ...ethanol cannot be shipped by pipeline... exceeds the energy gained from using it as fuel. The ethanol industry also depends on continued government subsidies from planting the corn to pumping the ethanol into your car.

[Charles Martel]

Try this stuff on your fiberglass fuel tank.

[Oberon]

I started using TruFuel in my small engines. Yes it's expensive, but my fuel-related maintenance problems are over.

I did switch over to 89-octane ethanol-free marine fuel for my 4-strokes after I found a local source, and that's been doing fine for me. However, I could use TruFuel 50:1 two-stroke mix in everything (2- and 4-stroke) and never miss a beat.